Tuesday, August 31, 2010

We’re thrilled to let you know that our tagline —Your Guide To Intelligent Giving — has been selected, from2,700 submissions, as a finalist in the 2010 Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards. Please take a moment and vote for us today. You'll find our tagline towards the bottom of the online survey, under "16. Organization - OTHER TAGLINES."Vote Now

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Five years ago, on August 29th, Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast. Philanthropists respond by giving $6.5 billion. The pace and level of giving was unprecedented, breaking all previous records of disaster-related giving. In fact, we had some of our busiest days ever as we helped donors review and support the charities that responded to this catastrophe.

Now, five years later, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 70% of New Orleans residents say they are happy with the recover efforts with 67% saying that they have recovered from the storm. Of course, many news outlets and others are using the anniversary as an opportunity to take a closer look at the recovery efforts including:

I had the opportunity to visit New Orleans earlier this summer. The consistent message I heard was ‘we’re open for business; please send your friends and family down here.” In other words, a great way to continue to support the recovery is to participate in their tourism industry. And why not? I had a wonderful time- from the food, to the jazz, to the museums, to the rich history – it is a fabulous place to visit. Of course, you can still contribute to charities helping in the region and you can still volunteer your time – as my friend did a few weeks ago assisting with Habitat for Humanity via a program initiated through her employer.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

With over 3 million donors consulting our charity ratings each year, we get a lot of feedback and questions about charity CEO pay. Potential donors want to know what is appropriate and what is excessive. Here’s a sampling of what some of you have said on the topic of CEO pay, via the comment portion of our site, just in the last couple of weeks:

“…it is just as important to check what an organization DOES for the troops as it is to count CEO salary dollars.” ~ about Fisher House Foundation

“President Obama's salary is $400k. If the CEO needs to earn $380k, let him work in private industry or run for President.” ~ about International Rescue Committee

“No matter how big the organization, non-profit CEOs should not (expect to) be compensated with a high six-figure package. If a CEO thinks she can make more money in the private sector then DO IT. But that is no justification for compensatory excess in the non-profit world! “~ about March of Dimes

“I give to UNICEF because of the track record of extraordinary accomplishments, and because UNICEF is already on the ground in more than 150 nations. I used a business model as part of my decision for giving--for each $100 I give, $91.80 goes to programs and about $.08 goes to the CEO. “~ about United States Fund for UNICEF

“I don't have a problem with CEOs being properly compensated for efficient management of a charity. However, I don't feel that CEO of IMC could be that much more effective at her job than Nicolas De Torrente, CEO of Doctors without Borders, with his salary $118,900 (or 0.07% of charity's expenses). “~ about International Medical Corps

“One of my chief concerns is the compensation of staff, especially CEO's. I won't give a cent to an organization whose CEO pulls in more than $90,000/yr. I understand organizations need competent, experienced people, but I can't afford to fund those salaries--especially when there are other excellent animal rights organizations out there using far more of my money AT LEAST as effectively. “~ about Defenders of Wildlife

“The people complaining about too high a salary are just plain wrong. Administering over $200 Million a year is not a simple nor a routine job. You get what you pay for. I want someone with good business skills at the top, and that requires a competitive salary. “~ about Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

So, for those of you who are looking for some assistance in evaluating CEO pay, we’ve released our 2010 CEO Compensation Study. It shows that the median pay for charity leaders is roughly $150,000. The full report includes details on how pay varies by location, charitable mission and organizational size along. The end of the report offers tips for evaluating your favorite charity’s compensation practices. And for more insight on CEO pay at nonprofits, check out our president & CEO’s blog.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Jessica Kizorek directed in Burkino Faso, Bill Kizorek in Cambodia, and Carly Kizorek just wrapped up taping in Southern Ethiopia. Our father and daughters production company has just just completed either shooting or editing three separate nonprofit documentaries (for Women Thrive, Micro-Credit Enterprises, and IIRR).

Carly listening to translation of what students are learning

Earlier this week, we finished shooting in rural Ethiopia. When I say rural, I mean, in one three-day period, driving 26 hours, much of it on pot-holed, washed out, and non-existant roads to get to the locations of the shoots.We were there to document the collaboration of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction and their partners, such as AFD (Action for Development). This week we filmed at Pastoral School projects - an innovative educational delivery systems that allows pastoral and nomadic families to allowed their children to attend classes which IIRR is developing. They customize not only the hours (early morning and early evening classes), but also use curriculum tailored the to the needs of the local animal-centric population.

Kids waiting for school to open

It was surprising to see just how content and happy the people in these settlement appeared - in spite of an almost total lack of access to electricity or running water. Thanks to IIRR and their global partners, however, they now DO have access to education....

Day classes are lit by sunlight, at night by one solar bulb

This is Bill Kizorek, senior partner at Two Parrot Productions, third blog entry for Charity Navigator. We invited him initially because we helped match upTwo Parrot Productions with several of the charities who eventually benefited from their grants. But he keeps writing because many of our blog readers enjoyed his prior posts.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

I was on a radio program earlier this week discussing the sluggish charitable response to the natural disaster in Pakistan. The floods, said to be the worst in 80 years, have left more than 1,600 dead, 2 million homeless, and millions more impacted. So, with such a massive need for aid, why is it that little money is being donated?

Here are some of the possible reasons:

Recession – Overall, giving in America was down 3.6% from 2008 to 2009. People, corporations, foundations and governments simply have less to give.

Recent Disasters –Donors already responded generously this year to the Haiti earthquake (more than $1 billion given in the first 4 months) and to a lesser extent the earthquake in Chile and the Gulf oil spill ($4 million donated in the first 6 weeks). They may not be motivated or able to give again --- this is the so-called donor fatigue syndrome.

Summer – Sadly, the timing of this tragedy may be having an impact on donations. Many people are on vacation and outdoors enjoying the summer. They may not be paying as close attention to the news as they do at other times of the year.

Media Coverage – In contrast to the coverage of the earthquake in Haiti, the media coverage of the Pakistan floods has been minimal. As they say, out of sight, out of mind.

Victims - The scale of the Pakistan disaster has eclipsed the disastrous tsunami in South Asia in 2004 (which generated donations of more than $1.5 billion). Yet, tens of thousands died in the tsunami, not to mention the hundreds of thousands who lost their lives in Haiti this past January.

Corruption/ Terrorism Link – Potential donors may be weary of the government and others in Pakistan. They worry if their contribution will really be used to provide aid, as they intented, or diverted to causes they do not wish to fund. In fact, there are already reports that various Pakistan charities, which are fronts for terrorist groups, are getting involved.

Government – Even with concerns over corruption and ineptitude, some may view the government in Pakistan as being more able to care for its citizens than, for example, the government in Haiti. For example, the government’s capacity to help had a dampening effect on giving to Chile after February’s earthquake.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Saving Philanthropy, a documentary film exploring the strategies associated with effective philanthropy and high-performing organizations, has just released a preview. Some of the most well known and respected philanthropic organizations and thought leaders are participating in the film, including Charity Navigator's own president & CEO, Ken Berger. Others include: Jane Wales, Director of The Aspen Institute's Program on Philanthropy, Paul Brest, President of the Hewlett Foundation, Kat Rosqueta, Founder of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at Penn, and David Hunter, former Director of Evaluation at The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation.

In this short clip we hear about Nurse-Family Partnership, an organization Charity Navigator has heralded for getting it right when it comes to financial health and accountability/transparency. Saving Philanthropy highlights Nurse-Family Partnership for its ability to show impacts for two generations.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Ramadan, a holy time when more than a billion Muslims around the world fast and focus their attention on giving to charity, starts this week. Most Muslims will direct their charitable gifts towards helping those stricken by poverty and hunger. Check out our site for a listing of highly rated charities which either work in countries with large Muslim populations or strive towards the alleviation of hunger.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Fair or not, charities founded by celebrities are impacted by the star’s public image. Usually, this relationship benefits both parties. The public’s awareness of the charity increases through its partnership with an athlete, actor, singer or other famous person. And the celebrity’s altruism enhances the public’s perception of him/her. But, when things go awry for one, they go downhill for the other too.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

By some estimates, the recent floods in Pakistan have already killed as many as 1,500 people. Experts worry that more will perish as water-borne diseases take hold. The UN says more than 3 million people have been affected by the floods and UNICEF says that of those, 1.3 million have lost homes and livelihoods.

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On this blog, professionals from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent charity evaluator and leading donor advocate, share their thoughts on emerging issues relating to the nonprofit sector and offer tips to help you make the most of your charitable endeavors.